Earthworm Jim (person)

Earthworm Jim started life as a computer game on the good old 16-bit SNES but soon grew into a kids' cartoon which was actually too clever and funny to be a kids' cartoon. It was lamentably cancelled before long, but it still lives on in the hearts of those who once loved it (me included... sniff!)

The story: Jim was just a normal earthworm, dodging bird attacks and so forth one fine morning when suddenly an ultra high-tech indestructible super cyber space suit fell from space and landed on him. Thankfully, it landed with Jim safely in the neck-ring of the suit, so he was able to take control of it and use it as an exoskeleton in order to fight evil. Handily included with the suit were his ray gun which rarely does anything useful, and a rocket which he uses to get around on and which somehow fits in his suit pocket. There are a host of other characters involved, both friends and enemies including:

Peter Puppy, Jim's sidekick. He is a cute adorable puppy until threatened with danger, upon which he mutates into a huge angry monster who can only be placated by being tickled. Peter is usually the brains behind the operations and often recites Dune's litany against fear in moments of crisis.

Snott, Jim's pet green blob which lives in the backpack of his suit, and who doesn't get much airtime on the show.

The Great Worm Spirit is the force which created the whole universe, and to which Jim pays particular reverence. It is not uncommon to hear Jim exclaim "By the Great Worm Spirit!" when surprised or scared, two states of mind with which Jim is all too familiar.

Each episode invariably consisted of one or more of the above evil villains attempting to destroy the universe/take over the world, whereupon Jim and Peter would fly off to confront him. Jim would whip out his ray gun and fire mindlessly, only to discover it was useless against such monstrous evil, thus forcing them to concoct a ludicrous plan to save the day although, more often than not, they would somehow stop the villain by sheer accident and dumb luck. Then, without fail, a cow would fall from the sky, landing upon one of the characters and ushering in the closing credits.

In all its sublime silliness, there were many memorable moments and quotes from this show, some of which were:

We're doomed I tell ya! Doomed! For those of you at home keeping score!

We're doomed I tell ya! Doomed! From the middle-english meaning condemned to ruination or death!

Jim's bizarre and childish sense of humour, coupled with ridiculous storylines (Jim finding the ancient Sword of Righteousness in a sandwich?) made this a classic show which appealed to young and old alike. How the evil bosses could be so callous as to cancel it I shall never know... Viva la Earthworm Jim!